Ignition system.



L. KELLGGG. IGNITION SYSTEM. APPLIcAioN HLED M1228. 1912.

y MLWQ., y menta@ @en 26, 1915.

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LEROY D. Kempes, or cHICAGfILLINoIs, AssIeNon rro KeLLoGG swrrcnnonnn ann surrmjpconrnnr, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or Immers.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten oet. ee, Isra.

Application led v(lctober 28, 1912. v Serial No. 728,123.

,provements in Ignition Systems, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to ignition systems for explosive engines and is directed more particularly to uni-spark systems, that is to systems in which but a single spark is Iliade for each cylinder explosion, ari-,object being to provide asystem of the above character having simplified circuit arrangements which are po'sitive and efhcient in operation.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters indicate like parts, Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of my invention, and Fig. 2 illustrates another embodiment thereof.

Referring nowin detail to the system of Fig. 1, which is illustrated diagrammatically,

it comprises in general a timer T, a distrib-l uter D, an inducti'on coil C, a relay R and vibrator key VK.- The toothed cam lof timer 'lj and the contact maker 2 ofdistributer D. are preferably' mounted upon the same shaft 3 so vas to positively travel to gether.` IAtimer contact spring 4 is provided having an insulating buffer 5 attached thereto and adapted to be engaged by a tooth of the timer cam 1 and thus moved to engage its alternate contact 6 which is connected to one terminal of battery B.

The distributer 'D has a number of contacts 7 corresponding to the spark plugs 8, there being a connection 9 between each distributer contact 7 and a corresponding spark plug 8. An induction coil C is also provided having a primary winding 10 connected to one terminal of the battery B, preferably the ground terminal, and also by conductor 11 tothe normal contact 12 of relay R. The connection is then extended through Contact 13 and conductor 14: to the ytimer contact 4.

A condenser 15 is vconnected'in multiple.

with the contacts 12, 13 and tends 'to eliminate the sparking of these contacts. secondary winding 16 of the induction coil is connected at one terminal to the conductor 17 which extends to the contact maker 2, the l.other terminal of the secondary winding 16 heilig l'connected so as to complete a circuit for-the spark, plugs 8 when 'asparking imary winding 16 over that of the primary winding l0 each time an impulse of current is transmitted through said primary winding 10.

Relay R has its winding connected in circuit with the timer contactI fl., so that it will be energized and held energized during each closure of the timer contacts 4., ti. Relay R is preferably of high resistance so as to operate with the least conslnnption of current and is preferably so arranged ythat each time the timer contacts are closed sufiicient time is allowed for primary winding 10 to be fully charged before the contacts 12, 13 of relay Rare interrupted. Each time ,the armature 18 of relay It is attracted the contacts 12, 13 are interrupted thereby breaking the circuit of primary winding 10 to induce a flow or current through the secondary winding'lG and cause a spark at the plug 8 which at the time is connected in circuitby the distributer arm 2;

Distributor D and timer T are preferably so related that for each spark impulse, contact maker 2 and a contact 7 are first closed followed by the closure of timer contacts 4, l

eliminated.

' A third o1 vibrator-y contact 19 provided for the relay R, being connected through a protective resistance 2.0 to key VK. This arrangement'is 'provided so as to permit a Vibratory operation of the relay R and thus secure a number of sparks for each closure of the timer contact instead of a single spark. That'is when the key VK is closed, each time the timer contacts 4, G are closed relay R attracts its armature closing Contacts 13, r19 whereby the path through low resistance 20 and key VK to ground' shunts the winding of relay II and causes the armature to retract whereupon contacts 13, 19 being interrupted and the shunt removed, the relay immediately attracts its armature again. This vibratory operation continues `during the closure of timer contacts 4:, 65o

that a plurality of impulses are transmitted throughpriinary winding 10 instead of theA single impulse. This arrangement is desirable inJ starting an engine.

Referring now to the operation of the System ol Fig. 1, upon rotating theshait't 3, the distributor contac" maker 2 first engages a contact T and tliei .fatter a timer tooth 1 engages the insulating` butter toetlect the closure ot' timer contacts 4, (3. A circuit for the priniary winding 10 is thus closed, traced from battery Bthrough contacts (i, 1, conductor 14C, normal contacts 13, 12, conductor 11, primary winding 10 ot the induction coil t0 the other terminal of battery B. The closure ot' contacts el, 6 also produces an energizing circuit for relay R traced tirera battery through said contacts t5, 1, conductor '1l and the winding o relay 1t to the other terminal of battery B. Relay lt therefore at tracts its armature 18 interrupting the contacts 12, 15 and thereby interrupting the circuit tor the primary win ding 10 and thereby creating a potential across the spark plug contacts S connected in circuit with the secondary winding, and ellecting a spark thereat. Relay lt remains energized until contacts 1,' (5 are interrupted whereby it restores followed by the interruption of the engaged contacts 2, '7. This sparking operation is ofcourse repeated each time the timer contacts A1, G are closed.

Assuming now that the 'operator has closed the vibrating key VK., relay R will vibrate and operate its contacts a number ot' times for .each closure of timer contacts 1, 0 thereby producing a vcorresponding number of sparks at the spark plugs S.

Fig. :Q In Fig. 2, I have illustrated another torni ot' my invention, (littering troni the tirst torni more particularly in the rel lay construction. Tli'at'is the relay R1 ot lfig. 2 when energized, attracts its armature to close a passing contact to etect a inonientary closure of the primary circuit. Re-

by spring 121' thereby pressing spi'ing 121 upwardly'to engageits alternate contact 131. As the'arinature 181 completes its attraction, pin 22 passes beyond and `frees itselt` of the piece allowing spring 121 to lagain more downwardly sol that contacts 121, 131 interrupt. Upon armature 181 retracting. .its pm 22 engages theupper surlacc olthe angular piece 23 thereby pressing lspring 121 downwardly andthus farther away froniits alternate Contact 131 but .lay R1 so constructed that when its arma-' upon full retraction of the armature, pin 22 again passes ott of piece 23 to allow spring 121 to move upwardly to assume its normal position as shown in Fig. 2. This momentary closure of contacts 121, 131 establishes a momentary l'low ot current through the primary circuit which produces a spark at the plug S1 then connected in circuit. Re-- lay R1 is preferably of a high resistanceso as to consume the least amount olfcurrcnt. ln the operation ot' the system ol Fig. 2, upon rotating shaft 31, thc distributor brush 21 tirst engages a contact T1 and thereutter a tooth 11 of the timer cani engages the rubber buli'er 51 closing the contacts 11, (31. An energizing circuit lor relay lt is thus closed whereby the armature 161 is attracted to cause a momentary closure otl contacts 121, 131. This closure produces a. momentary circuit in the primary winding 101 of the induction coil traced from battery B1, winding 101, conductor 111, contacts 121,

131, conductors 1111, contacts 11, (11 to ground o'r the other terminal of the battery. This inipiilse'of cau-rent through the primary winding 101 induces a current l'low in the secondary circuit and auses a`spurh across the spark plug terminals S1 which are then connected in circuit. f Thereafter the timer contacts 11, 01 are interrupted dcnergizing relay l1 and causing a retraction of its armature 18 without closing contacts 121, 131.

Although l have illustrated several cmbodiuients of inyinvention l do not desire to be limited to the exact structures as shown and described as many changes and modifications thereof may be, made, and I aim to cover all that which comes within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by lvnited States Letters Patent is:

1. n ignition system comprising normally open timer contacts. arclay winding and source of current in circuit therewith, a primary circuit independent of the relay winding and including said source of current a primary induction coil winding and contacts of said relay, closed responsive to the closure of said timer contacts, said relay being energized responsive to said timer contacts to thereafter interrupt said prima ry circuit and hold it'interrupted during closure ot the timer contacts, and a manually controlled circuit including an alternate contact ot' the relay for rendering the holding circuit inetfective and to cause a vibratoiyoperation of the relay during closure of the tiincrcoiitacts. l

2. .\n ignition system comprisingltimer contacts, a relay windingand source of cui'- rent includedin circuit therewith, and a primary vcircuit independent of the relay winding and includingr said source of cur= rent a primary winding and contacts of said `ius relay, said relay being adapted to be held.

energized vresponsive to' each 'closing operaerate said interruptor relay to transmit a 55 tion of the timer contacts to permit but a momentary closure of said primary circuit, and a manuallycontrolled circuit including an alternate contact of the relay ttor rendering the holding circuit ineffective and to cause a yibratory operation of the relay during each closing operation of the timer contacts.

An ignition system comprising timer contacts. a relay winding and source of cui'- rent connected in circuit therewith whereby said relay is operated each time said timer contacts are operated, a primary circuit including a branch circuit extending trom said timer contact and contacts of said relay a primary induction coil winding and said source of current, and a shunting circuit-f0r said relay including an alternate contact thereof and' amanually controlled switch.

4. An ignition system comprising timer contacts, a. relay winding and source of current in permanent circuit therewith. a' primary circuit independent of said relay winding and including contacts of said relay and saidl timer contacts, said timer contacts being adapted when operated to simultaneously close said primary and relay circuits; said relay being thereby operated to again interrupt said primary circuit and hold' it interrupted during the operation of the .timer contacts, and means including an alternate contact` and a f manually controlled switch for rendering Said holding circuit ineffective and causing a vibratory operation of the relay during closure of the timer' contacts.-

5. An ignition system comprising normally'open timer contacts, an interruptor relay, an induction coil and a manually operated switch, means for closing said timer contacts to thereby operate' the said. relay to cause a single impulseA to be transmitted through the primary winding ot the said induction coil, and means including said manual switch whereby the said interrupter relay may be operated totransmit a plurality of impulses through the said primary winding when the said timercontacts-are'v closed. i y

6. An ignition system comprising normally open timer contacts, an interrupter relay, an induction coil and a manual switch, means for closing said' timer contacts to op- Vsingle impulse to the primary winding of said induction coil, and means including said manual switch whereby the said interrupter relay may be operated to transmit a plurality of impulses to the said primary winding when the said timer contacts are closed.

7. An ignition system comprising normally open timer contacts, a relay included in circuit with a source of current and said timer contacts, aprimary circuit independent of the said relay and including the primary winding ofan induction coil and contacts of said relay, Vmeans for closing said timer contacts to energize said relay whereby the circuit ofthe said primary winding is opened, and means including a second circuit closer for vcausing the said relay to be denergized and thccircuit of said primary winding to again be closed.

8. .\n ignition system 'comprising an induction coil` normally open timer contacts and a relay for controlling the circuit of the primary winding of said induction coil. means for closing said timer contacts whereby only one impulse is transmitted to the said primary winding, and independent means comprising a second circuit closer whereby when the said timer contacts are closed the said relay will operate as a buzzer to transmit a plurality of impulses through the said primary winding. i

9. An ignition system comprising normally open timer contacts, a relay and a source of current- -in circuit therewith, a

. primary circuit independent of the said relayd and including' the primary Winding of' an induction coil and contacts controlled by said relay, means for closing said timer contacts to thereby close a circuit through the.

said relay whereby the contacts controlled by saidyrelay are opened'tlius interrupting the circuit of said primary winding, and means including a second circuit closer whereby the winding of said relay may be shunted tov cause the same'to dener'gize to y again close the said primary circuit.

Signed byf me at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, in the presence oftw witnesses.

. LEROY D. KELLUGG.

Witnesses:

` GEORGE E. MUELLER,

`Bessin QBRIEN. 

